Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

ED docs fired as health department probes EMTALA problems.  The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act's provisions apply to psychiatric patients, and California officials say Simi Valley Hospital hasn't been complying with that law. After conducting an investigation on behalf of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the state's Department of Health Services contends the hospital's emergency department did not perform screening exams on psychiatric patients before transferring them, transferred patients even though there was space available in the hospital's psych unit, transferred several patients because they didn't have insurance and failed to stabilize suicidal patients before transferring them. A day before the state's 32-page report became public, the hospital fired nine ED physicians, terminating the facility's contract with Equality Emergency Medical Care Group. Additionally, the hospital is reviewing its policies and procedures for compliance with applicable state and federal laws, and has submitted a plan of correction to the state, the Ventura County Star reported Sept. 27. Lesson Learned: Hospitals and ED practices should ensure their compliance programs address EMTALA issues for psych patients.